News

Between 7 and 10 October, the city of Monfalcone hosted the third in-person meeting of the ARTEMIS project — a key moment of exchange among European partners working to restore and conserve Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows across the Mediterranean, through innovative restoration protocols and nature finance models.

The meeting served as a crucial opportunity not only to review scientific and governance progress, but also to strengthen dialogue with local communities and promote a renewed culture of the sea, culminating in ARTEMIS’s participation at Barcolana 57 in Trieste, one of the world’s most renowned sailing regattas.

ARTEMIS Partner Meeting: from science to nature finance

The Local Stakeholder Workshop, held on 7 October and opened by Mayor Luca Fasan, placed at the center of the debate the protection of seagrass meadows and the opportunities offered by public–private partnerships for sustainable coastal management.

On 8 and 9 October, the partner meeting continued with two intense days of discussion on scientific data, policy frameworks, and economic mechanisms for seagrass conservation.

Teams from MEDSEA (Italy), HCMR (Greece), and IME-OBSAM (Spain) presented the latest monitoring results from the four pilot sites — Capo Testa–Punta Falcone, Atzikiari Bay, Cala Blanca, and Panzano Bay — sharing insights on biodiversity, the ecological status of meadows, and progress in transplanting new Posidonia oceanica planting units.

Between 7 and 10 October, the city of Monfalcone hosted the third in-person meeting of the ARTEMIS project — a key moment of exchange among European partners working to restore and conserve Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows across the Mediterranean, through innovative restoration protocols and nature finance models.

The meeting served as a crucial opportunity not only to review scientific and governance progress, but also to strengthen dialogue with local communities and promote a renewed culture of the sea, culminating in ARTEMIS’s participation at Barcolana 57 in Trieste, one of the world’s most renowned sailing regattas.

ARTEMIS Partner Meeting: from science to nature finance

The Local Stakeholder Workshop, held on 7 October and opened by Mayor Luca Fasan, placed at the center of the debate the protection of seagrass meadows and the opportunities offered by public–private partnerships for sustainable coastal management.

On 8 and 9 October, the partner meeting continued with two intense days of discussion on scientific data, policy frameworks, and economic mechanisms for seagrass conservation.

Teams from MEDSEA (Italy), HCMR (Greece), and IME-OBSAM (Spain) presented the latest monitoring results from the four pilot sites — Capo Testa–Punta Falcone, Atzikiari Bay, Cala Blanca, and Panzano Bay — sharing insights on biodiversity, the ecological status of meadows, and progress in transplanting new Posidonia oceanica planting units.

The discussion then turned to the economic valuation of marine ecosystems. During the Peer Learning Session led by Bax Innovation and Ecoacsa, keynote speaker Ece Özdemiroglu (CEO of EFTEC) examined how market-based instruments — from carbon credits to biodiversity credits — can generate tangible value for marine ecosystems, provided that transparency and clear governance rules are ensured.

The debate was based on the report developed by Ecoacsa and EY Denkstatt Bulgaria, with contributions from Plan Bleu, The Green Tank, and all project partners. The study, designed for public dissemination, maps for the first time the investment opportunities in Posidonia restoration across the Mediterranean, showing how ecological restoration can translate into measurable economic, social, and environmental value.

The week concluded on 10 October in Trieste, where the project was hosted at Barcolana 57 thanks to the collaboration with the Municipality of Monfalcone.

The ARTEMIS stand, set up at the Barcolana Village, became a meeting point for sea lovers and sailors, many of whom discovered for the first time the crucial role of Posidonia oceanica in maintaining healthy marine ecosystems.

During the event, a talk moderated by MEDSEA took place with sailors Loris Plet and Giulia Leghissa, under the motto “Those who love the wind, protect the sea.”
 It was a moment of dialogue between sport and environmental protection, highlighting the urgent need to raise awareness about the value of underwater seagrass meadows — habitats that can be destroyed in seconds by an anchor but take centuries to recover.

Loris Plet, General Director of the Yacht Club Monfalcone, shared his personal story, admitting that many people who live the sea every day still underestimate the value of its habitats. He realized their importance only after accompanying marine researchers studying seagrass ecosystems. Since then, he has worked to minimize the environmental impact of mooring fields during regattas and other sporting events at sea.

Giulia Leghissa, sailor and educator, emphasized that efforts toward sustainability and ocean protection are most effective when rooted in small, committed groups. As she suggested, each sailing team could appoint a sustainability leader to serve as an ambassador and educator on marine protection practices within their crew.

Throughout the event, MEDSEA Foundation played a central role — leading the exchange among partners and institutions and shaping the project’s narrative toward citizens, businesses, and the sailing community, with a clear message: protecting Posidonia means investing in the future of the Mediterranean.